How to implement the using statement (block) in PowerShell?

Question

This is a working example in C#:

using (var conn = new SqlConnection(connString))
{
    Console.WriteLine("InUsing");
}

I need the same in PowerShell (not working):

Using-Object ($conn = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection($connString)) {
    Write-Warning -Message 'In Using';          
}

The term 'Using-Object' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

It is working without a using block:

$conn = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection($connString)

But then, I must remember to close the connection explicitly, even when exceptions are thrown.

Answer 1

Here is a solution from Using-Object: PowerShell version of C#’s “using” statement which works by calling .Dispose() in a finally block:

function Using-Object
{
    [CmdletBinding()]
    param (
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [AllowEmptyString()]
        [AllowEmptyCollection()]
        [AllowNull()]
        [Object]
        $InputObject,

        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
        [scriptblock]
        $ScriptBlock
    )

    try
    {
        . $ScriptBlock
    }
    finally
    {
        if ($null -ne $InputObject -and $InputObject -is [System.IDisposable])
        {
            $InputObject.Dispose()
        }
    }
}

And here's how to use it:

Using-Object ($streamWriter = New-Object System.IO.StreamWriter("$pwd\newfile.txt")) {
    $streamWriter.WriteLine('Line written inside Using block.')
}